You know how something comes out and you’re like, “Oh yeah, I want that NOW”, but then you think that maybe you should wait a bit because it’s expensive and you fear that in 6-12 months time you just won’t be into it the same. And then you wait and you’re all like, “Yeah I still love it” (6 months later), or “What, huh? Oh yeah, that… Sooo NOT interesting anymore”. Well when it comes to Liberty Fabrics for sewing, I’ve always had a mega love affair. Their interiors fabrics though, particularly those out since last Fall, I wasn’t so sure I’d be into them down the road. But yeah, I’m still positively smitten by Liberty Heritage Fabrics for interiors, particularly the Jubilee and Nesfield collection, so I have to share a few fave looks below with you today. Just look at these rich, moody and well, decadent fabrics (there is wallpaper too! Swoon!). I’d love to work on an interiors project incorporating these beauties. Perhaps my own home? I have some ideas…

These prints (especially the photo of the cushion on the white chair above) makes me want to make seat cushions for my white Eames Eiffel chairs for my dining room, and to trim out some linen drapes for my living room, and yes, to maybe make roman blinds (or have them made) for our bedroom. That would be super lux. Now to just find a huge wad of cash laying around so I can throw my money into these projects because the fabric alone would be an investment. And I have an object of desire long on my list: a cozy chair covered in Liberty fabric. Would that not be truly grand? Perhaps once Aidan is older and can understand that no, he cannot jump on mommy’s sacred most holy chair.

Are you ready to watch a quick and inspiring video showing you how to make a refreshing watermelon salad? Hello, it’s Jewels again from Liz & Jewels, here to share another one of my little Food in Motion videos! As you guys know I’m still kind of a new mama. My daughter Clementine is 11 months old now. She just learned how to crawl and is keeping us on our toes! She spoiled us pretty well by starting to get mobile so late. For the first 10 months we didn’t really need to worry about the outlets, the pointy table corners, the remote control, our dog’s water bowl, the bottom drawers, the open dishwasher, etc. Now, many water puddles, a few accidents, and a couple of dog treats in Clementine’s mouth later, we have gotten used to constantly following her every step. If it gets quiet in the bathroom we know: she got tangled up in the toilet paper again.

I love being a mom but I sometimes miss a night all by myself on the couch, with no one to worry about – just me, myself, and I with my tv show (currently Orange Is the New Black!) and a bowl of food just for me. When I cook for my husband and myself, I try to create a legitimate meal with the usual components. But when it’s just for me, I like a huge bowl of kale salad with parmesan or greek yoghurt with berries or one of my summer favorites is this watermelon salad.

It is so refreshing! The watermelon has such a beautiful sweetness to it, the jalapeño give it some heat, the feta cheese adds the necessary creaminess, and the cilantro adds the special flavor. I sometimes mix in veggie bacon if I have it around and of course you can use real bacon, too! I can eat so much of this salad and then pass out happily with a round watermelon belly.

As you can see in the video, the recipe is super easy:

1/8 of a watermelon
1/2 of a green apple
1/2 of a cucumber
1/2 of a jalapeno (depending on how spicy you like it!)
juice of 1 lime
1/2 block of feta cheese
a few cilantro leaves

Chop up the watermelon, apple and cucumber into bite size cubes. Cut the jalapeno into tiny pieces. Drizzle the lemon juice on top of everything. Finish up with the minced cilantro. Eat all by yourself.- Jewels

Welcome to a new week everyone! How are you? I love summer because flowers are everywhere and super cheap to buy. I just picked up a bunch of Godetia from my favorite seller who has a weekly stand at the local farmers’ market for only €5! You really can’t go wrong with flowers that cheap. And godetia are nice because they last and as they expire, they open more and more and their paper-like beauty becomes even more spectacular. Mine still look gorgeous and it’s been nearly a week, and I have them in the sunlight too (a mega no-no when decorating with flowers!). Would you like to see three ways to decorate easily with Godetia? Here is what I did with my bunch after plucking them from the market.

1. As a bunch. One easy way is to arrange them in your hand and remove some of the leaves on the lower portion of the stems that will be immersed in water. Tie the bundle with a pretty ribbon. In our book, Decorate With Flowers, we show another version of this on page 43 in the Pastels + Neons section – we simply have one ribbon tied around a single stem and placed into a vase. In the example here, I’m taking it a step further to show an entire bundle. This is such an easy-not-cheesy idea because it’s obvious you put thought into it, choose the ribbon, propped them nicely on an angle in a vase (never upright!), so it looks casual and cool. It’s like you are saying to the world that you’re such a decorating diva, such a total bad ass, that you don’t need to fuss with your flowers – you just tie ‘em and plop ‘em in a clear glass vase! Boho chic.

2. In small cups. I bought these Arne Jacobsen cups last May at Raumformplan when I was working with Leslie on our book. We use these same cups in our book in the Black + White section showing how to decorate for an anniversary party – you know, XOXO, kisses and hugs? Yeah, I’m clever like that. Anyway, I like how the godetias look in something modern and graphic, especially since they are so paper-like and romantic. I like the contrast of hard and soft, don’t you? Against a gray table or on a dark bookcase – really nice.

BONUS TIP: If you don’t have Arne Jacobsen cups, then just use white cups and grab some black (or any color) washi tape and make your own letters or designs on them.

3. Tape ‘em to the window. And the third way is to use washi tape and tape these suckers to your window during a party. You can tape dozens and dozens and go crazy over-the-top borderline nutcase or be modest like me and tape 3, 5, 7, 9… Whatever makes you happiest.

BONUS TIP: They’ll die faster without water (duh), so the best way is to tape them up right before the party starts and remove them at the end – they’ll go about 8 hours before wilting. When you remove them, instantly clip the bottoms and place them in cold water with a little sugar in it to liven them up. A little sugary cold water is flower Viagra, y’all.

So yeah, those are some easy, budget-friendly and fun little ways to decorate with flowers… Nice, right? You don’t need to drop wads of cash on flowers or style up something florist-worthy at home. The key is to get creative and do things that take only a few minutes yet add impact and style that gives you a chance to get creative and use your hands. Once you start decorating with flowers in easy, creative ways you will never go back to the typical pre-made arrangement plopped into a vase. I swear! You’ll really love getting creative with blooms if you give yourself the creative license to just GO FOR IT and not to fuss too much or try to be some flower guru with all the right decor ideas.

They key, like with anything intimidating or new, is to JUST GET STARTED and take the first step. So why not go buy some flowers this week and see what magic you can create? This isn’t rocket science you guys, we’re not putting people on Mars… This is simply exercising the creativity you were born with and having some fun without judgement or having to be perfect because how boring is perfect anyway? I’m so over it.

Do you like Godetia? Have you seen it in your local flower shop or farmers’ market lately?

I’ve blogged about this styling rock star before but Aussie stylist Jason Grant is the cat’s meow in styling at the moment so I must highlight him again. I heard about Mr. Grant a few years ago for the first time and have been a fan since – I really enjoyed his first book, A Place Called Home, and can hardly wait for his next one, Away At Home, to be published by Rizzoli which will drop this Fall and is a collaboration with photographer Lauren Bamford. I saw it already cover-to-cover and fell in love. In it, Jason talks about how to live everyday like you are on vacation with inspiration and tips for creating a relaxed boho-vibe at home and he provides much insight on a myriad of decorating ideas for creating your own private resort right in your home. Of course, after the babysitter comes to scoop up the children and whisk them away to the nearby playground (wink).

The above pics are a few that show his carefree beachside apartment in Sydney, as shown in Inside Out magazine.

I recently got to talk to Jason about what’s hot and what’s not, I thought you’d be interested in hearing what he has to say…

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Hello! I'm Holly and I'm primarily an interiors and lifestyle writer and decor8 is where I share unique, inspiring and beautiful products, people and places with a focus on creativity. I also write about blogging, social media and small business topics. I love to inspire and motivate others.

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